This 26-Year-Old Is Making Millions Cutting Out Traditional Publishers With Amazon Kindlehttp://www.businessinsider.com/amanda-hocking-2011-2/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:32:53 -0500Pascal-Emmanuel Gobryhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d91d8e649e2ae5727350000Jamie Curtis BakerTue, 29 Mar 2011 09:04:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d91d8e649e2ae5727350000
I recently just published on the Kindle myself. If you are in the mood for a sarcastic, humorous horror/suspense story, please check out my book "Not Well". Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Well-ebook/dp/B004PLMII2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299097222&sr=1-3
Thanks for the support! :-)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d87f46e49e2aeec66160000LarryMon, 21 Mar 2011 20:59:26 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d87f46e49e2aeec66160000
agents, deals, publishers, financiers? So the author gets to cut out the vampires who are leaching off of them and their hard work. How is that a bad thing? Too bad musicians are not able to do it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d876f2449e2aebe62020000GeorgieboyableMon, 21 Mar 2011 11:30:44 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d876f2449e2aebe62020000
Adapt or Die! It's the natural law.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d81c647cadcbb68131b0000DmitriyThu, 17 Mar 2011 04:28:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d81c647cadcbb68131b0000
Super !!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7bb2b04bd7c8d458030000David_R8Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:51:44 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7bb2b04bd7c8d458030000
You've made excellent points that hint at the larger socio-economic problem e-publishing create; what work are all of the "middle men" supposed to do when they are no longer needed? There are a lot of people in the book supply chain that will be looking for work and the so-called knowledge economy is not going to absorb them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7bafcf4bd7c84357460000David_R8Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:39:27 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7bafcf4bd7c84357460000
Open question:
If e-books eventually replace printed books, what becomes of all of the people who work in the book supply chain: the loggers, paper mill workers, printers, shippers, receivers, delivery drivers, store owners and staff and library workers to name a few.
What new economy career are they going to take up?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d78129449e2aeda1d0d0000JohnnyBWed, 09 Mar 2011 18:51:48 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d78129449e2aeda1d0d0000
It's perfectly legitimate. There's really no way to cheat your way to sales. The product exists, it's being purchased. That's that. Plus as someone else stated here she is marketing her goods by every means available to her. That's how the little guy gets it done. Good for her.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d780e9d49e2aed6150d0000JohnnyBWed, 09 Mar 2011 18:34:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d780e9d49e2aed6150d0000
That's not even close to true. Sure technology created the avenue but without a free market and capitalism this still wouldn't have been possible. A government without a free market (China) would have, could have made this illegal. So yeah it IS a win for capitalism and free markets.
I think you should travel a bit more.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d77e18b49e2aebb68080000MadelynnWed, 09 Mar 2011 15:22:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d77e18b49e2aebb68080000
Poets are welcome to come, and exchange links also. I corrected my url.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d77e0cfcadcbbd536040000MadelynnWed, 09 Mar 2011 15:19:26 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d77e0cfcadcbbd536040000
Poetry has a way of healing, and opening ones mind. There are many modern greats, and they only way for them to enlighten the world is to stand up for themselves, and give it try, Modern websites, have failed poets. Poets have to nake a stand, and create every possible way to make the world a better place.
I do believe in hard copy is better, so we all need to do both,
Availability is the key, let the comsumer decide,
Thank you all for such insight..
Madelynnhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d740be2ccd1d58c11360000L'eau WrenSun, 06 Mar 2011 17:34:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d740be2ccd1d58c11360000
Really @dreamofrain22? I almost spit out my coffee reading your comment. If publishers "truly cared about the work they do" they wouldn't demand that authors continue to write the same pablum over and over again. Writers are no longer given creative freedom to write what they want. They are trapped writing the same formulatic crap that is then spoon fed to the masses who care nothing of quality. If publishers cared so much about the work they do, they wouldn't be handing money out to train wrecks like "snookie" and palin. If they really cared about the work they do, they would be looking for new and innovative works to publish. All they care about is making money and that will ultimately be their downfall.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73ceb549e2ae4e58250000RobGrondahlSun, 06 Mar 2011 13:13:09 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73ceb549e2ae4e58250000
I don't think you understand the meaning of either of those two words.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73be40ccd1d5f607090000TonoSun, 06 Mar 2011 12:02:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73be40ccd1d5f607090000
without a doubt the internet is the best and cheapest intelligence and spying instrument ever existed...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73b7f0ccd1d57c05210000Wu MingSun, 06 Mar 2011 11:36:00 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73b7f0ccd1d57c05210000
To the author of this piece: "notoriety" does not mean "fame." It has a negative connotation to those of us who read books.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73ac634bd7c87e17020000AlSun, 06 Mar 2011 10:46:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73ac634bd7c87e17020000
And I thought Al Gore created the internet... Didn't he say that?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73a50949e2ae4f3c090000RuralistSun, 06 Mar 2011 10:15:21 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73a50949e2ae4f3c090000
We're working on it!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73a3ba4bd7c8ee15070000RuralistSun, 06 Mar 2011 10:09:46 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d73a3ba4bd7c8ee15070000
G'orr was the best obsidian point maker in the clan. His facility with striking flakes from the opaque stones created surgically sharp edges, and his arrow heads and meat cutting utensils were much in demand.
S'eekah returned from a long trek to the ice walls with a new skill; while building a fire with dead sticks she accidentally figured out that heating a stick made it easier to bend it - if one could bend a thing, one could "straighten" a thing. Soon she was known for her straight arrows and spears. Though she shared this knowledge, like G'orrr, it was her personal skill that set her products apart from anyone else' endeavors.
G'orr and S'eekah soon learned to trade their products for items they needed to survive, as well as totems and accouterments to their living space.
N'hha was a master with sinew. When she attached a point to an arrow, the profile was sleek and aerodynamic. But her greatest skill was bartering.
N'hha convinced S'eekah and G'orr to work together and provide her with fine points and straight arrows shafts
An arrow or spear made by S'eekah, with a G'orr point, bound tight with N'hha's tiny sinew wraps, flew as straight as the hunter's skill. The three of them grew fat and wealthy trading their superior products to the hunter's of many clans.
Any questions?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d739f594bd7c8c715030000Jim BoSun, 06 Mar 2011 09:51:05 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d739f594bd7c8c715030000
This needs to happen to the music industry now.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d739147ccd1d5287f1e0000BrodySun, 06 Mar 2011 08:51:03 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d739147ccd1d5287f1e0000
There was a time when publishing houses were mostly prestige businesses, more concerned with promoting art than making a large profit, but that time is long gone. New, unestablished authors have been at their mercy for a long time, making next to nothing on their first few books, and even forced to sign away rights to their work, including film rights. If this new technology changes that, it's a very good thing. Sure, there will be kinks that will need to be worked out, but in the end artists and consumers will win, and parasites will lose. The fact is that Amanda Hocking would be making far, far less money using a traditional publisher than she is now.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d731a1449e2ae392e1a0000AlzanSun, 06 Mar 2011 00:22:28 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d731a1449e2ae392e1a0000
".....sell 100,000 books at 99 cents each, you'll have $29,700 and Amazon will have the rest..."
Or continue "begging" at the doors of traditional publishers, getting nowhere and getting NOTHING? What's your point? Or is it just an "estimate" at taking a stab at making a point?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d72e5f749e2ae7c01270000ShahSat, 05 Mar 2011 20:40:07 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d72e5f749e2ae7c01270000
How do I go about to publish my works on kindle?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d72c339ccd1d52c27240000LolaSat, 05 Mar 2011 18:11:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d72c339ccd1d52c27240000
Actually, the article is incorrect. Amazon lets authors keep 35% of their sales, NOT 70%.
Granted, .35 cents on the dollar isn't bad, but still, 70%? Do people ever fact-check these days?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d72be7a49e2aed965670000Chris81Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:51:38 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d72be7a49e2aed965670000
@jasonian84
Without hundreds of millions of dollars in government-subsidized computer science and computer networking research starting in the 50s and continuing through today, there would be no technology for companies to commercialize.
I hope we continue to get the subsidies necessary for platforms like the Internet, GPS, and wireless communication to come to fruition. Very rarely is the payoff-horizon on these fundamental technologies anything that a company measured against quarterly and annual earnings in a position to fund.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d722ba1cadcbb9e1d040000op3Sat, 05 Mar 2011 07:25:05 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d722ba1cadcbb9e1d040000
There is no such thing as "public" money. The government produces NOTHING. The only money government has was confiscated from people and companies making a profit in the private, capitalistic, free enterprise system.
"Freedom and financial equality are polar opposites.
Freedom and equal opportunity are inseparable."http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d718a924bd7c8400d110000Brock WayFri, 04 Mar 2011 19:57:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d718a924bd7c8400d110000
You don't know arse from 3rd base. Capitalism is always EXACTLY whatever happens unless government gets in there and screws it up.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d717e5349e2ae220a200000Mr HeffFri, 04 Mar 2011 19:05:39 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d717e5349e2ae220a200000
...and jobs lost in retail, warehousing, papermills, advertising and promotion, shipping and handling.
I mean, you think "yeah, screw those Random House Execs... but seriously, the execs are gonna be fine. They're always fine. its everyone else that gets to eat change.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d716c93cadcbba601030000TonyFri, 04 Mar 2011 17:49:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d716c93cadcbba601030000
When a writer used to write a book there used to be a lot of people making judgments about the work long before it even published if it even got past the first reader opinion of it. Then several other people had to judge it before an editor made the cuts that were all their own version of what should be published.So anything that made it to the customer was heavily edited to supposedly make it suitable for the best seller lists and what the agents and editors thought would bring the highest financial returns to them and not the author.. Unfortunately that left a lot of really good storytellers unable to pass the first reading and if they did it also made their original writing a slashed up mess to conform to the current formula and left out writers who didn't want to write to a formula or write more than one book in a genre.Now writers can publish in many genres both fiction and nonfiction on many sites and have their own uncensored control over the writing they produce and let the customers themselves decide if it is worth buying.It's not necessary for readers to have to put up with having to read prejudged and edited versions of books that are slanted to a market niche.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d71643b49e2aebb72090000PulSamsaraFri, 04 Mar 2011 17:14:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d71643b49e2aebb72090000
We've all been Capitalists AND Socialists for as long as we've been mammals.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d715f8749e2aeaa72020000The BrainsFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:54:14 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d715f8749e2aeaa72020000
You are a monumental dumbass.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d715f85cadcbbe47d150000Sue DentFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:54:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d715f85cadcbbe47d150000
Well this reeks of "Amazoness." Amazon hasn't made anything possible. They provide a DRM protected e-book so they can sell a ton of Kindle readers. They then lure authors in and force them to participate in a lending library which allows for one purchaser to lend a copy of their ebook out to friend for up to two weeks to decide if they want to purchase it.
Excuse me?
Since when is this decision the decision for a distributor to make? Another decision that should be made by the publisher only is allowing for books to be returned. Amazon allows the return of kindles for up to like SEVEN days. Enough time to read the book and return it. WOW! Yeah! You're gonna make tons of money like that.
Bottom line is that any author can provide a DRM free PDF of their book themselves to be converted into any format known to man to date.
Just dont' want Amazon to be made to look like something they're not. Smashwords is looking pretty good right now though with their DRM free e-book versions. And the cut they take is small. Sell it through your own site though and you get to make the decisions yourself and keep ALL the money. Sure beats LOSING money selling books.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7159384bd7c88005020000Julie Ann DawsonFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:27:20 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7159384bd7c88005020000
Amazon's Kindle program only pays 35% on 99 cent books. Only books priced $2.99 or higher earn the 70% royalty, and then only books sold on Amazon.com and Amazon.uk (books sold through other Amazon sites only pay 35% regardless of price. I don't remember off the top fo my head if that includes Amazon.ca)
Amanda is a wonderfully talented young woman who has found her niche in the industry and has the good sense to take advantage of it. I just wish reporters would bother to do their homework and get their facts straight.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d71533ccadcbba27b030000J.S. ChancellorFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:01:48 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d71533ccadcbba27b030000
Even though I'm with a traditional publisher, we're also fighting the trend by giving away my first book, as an ebook, for FREE the entire month of March. I listed the link on my blog, but you can also find it on my author page at Rhemalda.com
Here's the blog address in case anyone is interested in the download: <a href="http://www.welcometotheasylum.net" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.welcometotheasylum.net</a>
Hope you enjoy the book!
J.S.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d714c94ccd1d56e71010000wow234145Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:33:24 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d714c94ccd1d56e71010000
I didn't know selling something off the internet that people are willing to buy is thanks to free markets and capitalism.
I think anyone living in a rather "free" country could do this as long they have internet.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d71499f4bd7c8e101050000Old SchoolFri, 04 Mar 2011 15:20:47 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d71499f4bd7c8e101050000
I guess it's just about the money now, since "bezos the antichrist" turned literature into just another throw away commodity. Who cares about the e-book - if you don't like it, just hit erase. And when your told to erase by big brother under the guise of "Captain FreeMarket" will you obey? A book you hold in your hand is a real, tangible thing, a thing of value and beauty. Can you give your e-book to a friend to enjoy? Can you share in a community that is not mediated by technology? Social Media - the true oxymoron. Good luck with your technology when the lights go out.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d714469ccd1d5ea6e1c0000DanFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:58:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d714469ccd1d5ea6e1c0000
If you're in the mood for a sarcastic comment, check out this:
Misspelling "humorous" in a marketing pitch from an author is a great way to gain new readers.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7143bd49e2ae4855010000Dianna ZaragozaFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:55:41 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7143bd49e2ae4855010000
Interesting possibility. It would mean a massive shift in the traditional publishing market, and smaller markets per writer.
This new paradigm also means that the writer is now the marketer as well, so writers will also have to adapt in order to win their market. Not all writers may be ready for that as well.
Good article to share on my website for creative writing and lifestyle, <a href="www.creative-writing-life-coach.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.creative-writing-life-coach.com</a>. Lots of new ideas for writers being kicked around over there as well.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7142b149e2aed351240000WillieDorrFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:51:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7142b149e2aed351240000
Where do I think computers came from? The Enigma code-breakers at Bletchley Park in England during WW II, for a start, i.e. government research dollars. Let's see, then there was ENIAC, which was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the United States Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory -- the funding for which was, let me see...oh, right, federal money. Then America decided to go to the moon, and of course we needed computers to do that, and the technology had to be shrunk in order to make all this happen -- yeah, pretty much federal money. The government has pretty much created most of the tech jobs in existence.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d714173cadcbb68781a0000Author Tye LewisFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:45:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d714173cadcbb68781a0000
@Victor Volkman - Where did you pull those bogus numbers from? Don't hate on Amanda because she is making money and famous. The facts are with Amazon books price $2.98 and less or $10 or more or paid 30%; books that are price $2.99-$9.99 are paid 70%. With a little research you would know that Amanda is very business savvy, she prices the first book of each of her series at .99 to allow the reader to sample her writing with a minimal risk. If they like it they can purchase the rest of the books in the series for $2.99. Also because of the amount of volume that Amanda does she may have a deal with Amazon that states regardless of the price of the eBook she still receives the entire 70%. This message is not intended to defame you, just merely state the facts.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7137d24bd7c8b67d130000I am samFri, 04 Mar 2011 14:04:50 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7137d24bd7c8b67d130000
Actually most technology we uses comes from government expenditures - from military to space development. So, I could argue that this huge advance in the "Free market" was a result of excessive military communication spending in the 1950's.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d713095cadcbb09760a0000Fred for FreedomFri, 04 Mar 2011 13:33:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d713095cadcbb09760a0000
@ Neil, This is an Al Gore spun lie. The internet was begun by Ham Radio operators that used to send packet information over radio and then decised while working at a University to do the same thing over phonelines to transmit data across campus rather than hand carry it on an 8" floppy drive.
Colleges saw the usefulness between them for transferring data quickly between mainframes.
The Gov saw this and took the idea. But they DID NOT develop the internet. Geeks did.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7109ddccd1d57d65040000Ian PattinsonFri, 04 Mar 2011 10:48:45 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7109ddccd1d57d65040000
On Amazon if you price your ebook over $2.99 you're eligible for the 70% (minus a fee for bandwidth used to send it, if it's larger). Below $2.99 you get 30%. If you use the smaller rival publisher Smashwords you get 70% at all prices.
$29,700 a month may not add up to a $million a year, but who on here would say no to it? The rest of us indie authors can aspire to Amanda Hocking's dizzy heights and even if we don't reach them many of us will still be making a decent wage.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7102794bd7c8b473230000SteveFri, 04 Mar 2011 10:17:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7102794bd7c8b473230000
FWIW, she's not making "millions" through publishing on the Kindle. No indie author is. Why make stuff up?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70fcb24bd7c87573030000phannah715Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:52:34 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70fcb24bd7c87573030000
Victor Volkman makes the only relevant and sensible comment on here. Good luck trying to change the world through kindle sales everyone elsehttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70f231cadcbbc56a090000MonkFri, 04 Mar 2011 09:07:45 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70f231cadcbbc56a090000
Publishing without barriers!!! It's about time the marketplace of ideas trumped the economic marketplace. Traditional publishers can no longer stifle the messenger because they don't like the message. This is a very good thing.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70dfa7cadcbbd166740000ReallyFri, 04 Mar 2011 07:48:39 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70dfa7cadcbbd166740000
Borrowing books at the library is not piracy.
Borrowing books at the library, copying them for yourself and to make copies for others later is piracy.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70b0604bd7c8cf651a0000MiseseanFri, 04 Mar 2011 04:26:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70b0604bd7c8cf651a0000
Really, DARPA's involvement in the internet is overstated; it's not even clear whether it advanced the spread of the internet or held it back. But with less government intervention, something like it could have existed in the 1940s...<a href="http://bit.ly/fdiyTY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/fdiyTY</a>.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d708a65ccd1d57351090000Classical DressageFri, 04 Mar 2011 01:44:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d708a65ccd1d57351090000
When I was a student at Berkeley, for *every* class we had to buy not only a ton of heavy books we only were required to read small parts of, but we had to go to "Copy Central" throughout the semester. This place was crazy. They must have used up an entire forest every day. These "supplements" were fat, bound photocopies of scholarly journal articles. A system like this would have been SO much easier, cheaper, and convenient.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70852dcadcbbfd58140000UsikuFri, 04 Mar 2011 01:22:37 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70852dcadcbbfd58140000
Nope! Search key phrase "Google books" this article and then start a few response above it.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7073f5cadcbba457030000IanFri, 04 Mar 2011 00:09:09 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7073f5cadcbba457030000
While ebooks have made the writers more money and cut out the "middle man" as you say, it has also created a massive deluge of smut, crappy stories and fancy covers. We have gone back to the age of the penny novel sold at the newspaperstand. A cheap story to pass the time and then discard. It is this "penny novel" market that is making the money and in turn taking money away from the "real" works of literature that earlier took all the money to feed their entourage of agents, publicists, publishers etc. Also, graphic cover designers are making a killing as the book with the most appealing cover maximizes its sales potential.
The real people making money here is Amazon, not the writers, nor the readers. Imagine they make money for ecer purchase made on Amazon, every novel, every novella, every Kindle device sold, every add clicked on their website, every search that brought customers to their stie. The fact that they destroyed an industry to pad their bottom line doesn't inspire confidence that they are interested in the public good, be they the writers or the readers.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7073d14bd7c8cd5d1b0000AHFri, 04 Mar 2011 00:08:32 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7073d14bd7c8cd5d1b0000
Dictionary.com definition: cap·i·tal·ism – noun
an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, especially as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
Capitalism has nothing to do with ethics or morality. The two are completely unrelated. Furthermore, I have to disagree with you. Google helped China develop censoring policies. Apple makes its products in sweatshops where suicide is essentially endemic.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d707124ccd1d5494e010000AHThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:57:08 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d707124ccd1d5494e010000
Fred, I'm afraid you're a bit confused here. The "free market" includes ALL actors, from Random House to Amazon to Ms. Hocking. Ms. Hocking is part of the free market, so, indeed, it is the free market at work.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d707025cadcbb3e57010000JoeyThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:52:53 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d707025cadcbb3e57010000
If you drink more, that's your problem... If I loose one paperback book, no big deal. But if you loose your Kindle with a thousand dollars worth of ebooks (3,500 max) on it. As Ronald Reagan would say... W-E-L-L (that's sad but real funny). So, drink up and when it happens, you'll understand why we like paper over plastic light bulbs.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d706c97cadcbb3e56060000The Only ModerateThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:37:43 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d706c97cadcbb3e56060000
This is not the first time this has happened. It's called "disintermediation" i.e. the use of the Internet to perform functions previously done by 'intermediaries'. Remember "travel agents"? How quaint.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70694fcadcbb19551e0000whiteravenThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:23:43 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70694fcadcbb19551e0000
I see no reason to save the publishing industry or to help them be saved if they will not do what needs doing to save themselves. As far as I am concerned publishers can all go find a new job. I suggest submitting resumes to Amazon.com.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7068ef49e2ae0132070000JoeyThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:22:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7068ef49e2ae0132070000
If Net-Neutrality fail, the consumer WILL pay more for data rates, just like cell phone users pay for separate TEXT. WEB DATA rates. In the end, it WILL cost the cusumer just as much for the purchase of paper books and magazines. Yep, Capitalism screwing poor people again, not memtion ALL the people who WORK producing paper books and magazines. This change is NOT good for the cusumer, time will show I'm RIGHT.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d706858cadcbbf654100000JustForYouThu, 03 Mar 2011 23:19:35 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d706858cadcbbf654100000
"...Clearly shown in their failure to anticipate future events?"
Tell me, if I raise the price of your vodka, will you buy more or less? Well, if you had an answer here, I do believe you predicted the future and guess what got you there...gasp...economics. There may just be something to this pseudo science after all...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d704eb54bd7c80f59050000MarkRThu, 03 Mar 2011 21:30:12 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d704eb54bd7c80f59050000
???? Free market capitalism is not about fighting against technology! Capitalism and free makets won out over those forces fighting this. Go read a good economics text book.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7044fe4bd7c82b570b0000B.Y.Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:48:45 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7044fe4bd7c82b570b0000
Even better. I don't even have to pay for any books because I can download them off the internet for free.
Thanks piracy!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70445c4bd7c87557010000the RIAA sucks my assThu, 03 Mar 2011 20:46:03 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70445c4bd7c87557010000
the RIAA did everything in their power to block this new tecchnology, and when they couldn't, they demanded the people who put effort into this new age instantly hand it over to them no questions asked.
When they were told it was "too late" they started suing people. They act is if the own the concept of music, and anyone who gets big enough to challenge them they sue.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7043f4ccd1d587460b0000Marvin8Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:44:20 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7043f4ccd1d587460b0000
Tell me this isn't the coolest story around!
Small time talent makes it BIG!!!! God Bless Her!!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7043c4cadcbb5850010000well I wouldn't say its all capitalismThu, 03 Mar 2011 20:43:32 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7043c4cadcbb5850010000
the internet has breathed new life into capitalism, from the mire of corporations of yesteryear that would use their power and influence to remake society to their will....even if that ment a slight dip in profits.
That said, internet capitalists aren't as ruthless and cunning as pure capitalists, as many dot coms are nerds who are bound by the open source movement are and believers in people power.
The reality of the internet is its a funny mix of progressivism and and libertarian capitalism, not bound by the previous generations perceptions on politics, and you know what, it seems to work really well, and more fair than 20th century socialism, capitalism, or third way fascism.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7041f749e2ae5614020000Earthmother97Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:35:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7041f749e2ae5614020000
It is cutting out all of those jobs because those jobs are slowly becoming irrelevant. In the meantime it is creating jobs in not only building the kindle's but in customer service and technical assistance.
Most importantly, the writer gets to keep the profits of her own work. Maybe you missed that part, but it seems to make more sense to me.
WIN.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703ff8ccd1d57d46010000Emily BThu, 03 Mar 2011 20:27:20 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703ff8ccd1d57d46010000
@John Anthony Curran: Not everyone will be a writer. But everyone who tries to write must be a marketer. That's the difference between success and not.
I disagree - then who am I? I'm an author who doesn't waste a single minute marketing my work - that's my publisher's job. You have to produce a quality product to sell.
Author of more than thirty traditionally-published books. Yes, they sell. Readers recommend them to other readers.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703e864bd7c85356030000BevThu, 03 Mar 2011 20:21:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703e864bd7c85356030000
For far too long, the publishers and their quest for maximum profits have been the gatekeepers to the reader, barring the way for a multitude of talented and burgeoning writers to express their works.
Now...if we could just get skirt around the network executive and the ad agency, the gatekeepers that cancel some truly wondering television in their quest for some snipe called "viewer ratings."http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703e0acadcbb0b4f080000Josh BThu, 03 Mar 2011 20:19:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703e0acadcbb0b4f080000
its time to move on, buddy. welcome to the 21st century.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703c63cadcbb084f040000Really?Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:12:03 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703c63cadcbb084f040000
Shame on them for making a living? Shame on them for trying to feed their kids?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703c60ccd1d5d145030000Really?Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:11:59 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703c60ccd1d5d145030000
Shame on them for making a living? Shame on them for trying to feed their kids?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703a784bd7c86655060000Eddie LepperThu, 03 Mar 2011 20:03:52 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d703a784bd7c86655060000
Isn't this article adveristing for Amazon and Kindle? Am I the only one that see thats?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70390a4bd7c88255010000Writer and Avid ReaderThu, 03 Mar 2011 19:57:46 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d70390a4bd7c88255010000
Actually, her writing style and plotlines are amazing and addicting. I originally bought the first ebook for the teenager in our home. I ended up reading it before she did and then purchasing each one as they came out! Her writing targets two big markets right now in literature: young adult and paranormal romance.
I have been planning on publishing my works on both amazon and smashwords. You can hire someone to edit your writing online for a fraction of the cost you would of someone in an office, as they have no real overhead costs. Don't assume the price has anything to do with the quality of the work, as many authors have realized by lowering price of first ebook or offering for free in limited time offers on Amazon, they are able to reach more readers that get hooked on their writing. I have gotten over 3000 ebooks that I have enjoyed for free or nearly free and have enjoyed about 85% of them. I have a problem with big authors and publishers that end up charging $10 or more for an ebook version of a book they offer for $5 in paperwork. Costs should be down for digital, not more.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d702c8a4bd7c8a553010000robertroparsThu, 03 Mar 2011 19:04:26 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d702c8a4bd7c8a553010000
Was going to comment that as an author you get 35% commission under $2.99, 70% at $2.99 and above but others beat me to the punch. Otherwise great article, expect to see more examples like this and hope to be one of them!
Robert Ropars
Author of Dark Bites:
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G8R0NM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G8R0NM</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7025fdcadcbb5b4b0c0000KellyThu, 03 Mar 2011 18:36:28 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d7025fdcadcbb5b4b0c0000
Being new to the indie publishing arena myself (we recently edited/published I EAT BUTTERFLIES by Raven c.s. McCracken on Amazon Kindle & in paperback on Lulu.com), I find it heartening to see the success of someone like Amanda Hocking as she's taken charge of her writing life - however, you have to remember, her "overnight success" took her 8 years and lots of previous rejections of those very books that are now hot sellers. Definitely something to take into consideration if you're planning to make writing/publishing your "day job!"
And for every Amanda Hocking, there are 1000s of writers whose work languishes in any format because all the factors don't line up - the writing isn't up to par, the subject matter has grown cold (or is too far ahead of its time), the author is an unknown that people aren't willing to gamble on, the cover art doesn't grab the audience on first glance, etc. It takes a lot of hard work to get all of the pieces together and at the right time to hit it as well as she has. She's managed to tap into a hot market with current subject matter and has used her social networking skills to parlay her books into a full-time living. Kudos to her and her efforts - she's earned it. (Now if she'd just get someone to edit her books a little more tightly on the grammar. Even she says she still needs help in that area ;)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d701064ccd1d5a63e160000Errol Lincoln UysThu, 03 Mar 2011 17:04:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d701064ccd1d5a63e160000
Bill Jensen and Peter Bowermen ( above) make good points about the perils of flooding the market with a torrent of mediocrty,
Yet, as an editor and writer who saw his first published story set in hot metal, I marvel at Kindle and its role in the future of the "printed" word.
No traditional book can offer the interactive platform I've created for the Kindle edition of my novel (i)Brazil(/i) or open the door to sharing the magic that goes into the making of a monumental novel. -- Linked to the text is an Illustrated Guide to Brazil with more than 200 images, maps, journals, etc. providing a companion on a fictional journey through five hundred years of Brazilian history..
I wrote (i)Brazil (/i) 25 years ago -- in longhand -- took five years in the process and happily saw the book stay in print all that time. I could never have imagined that a small device would “re-kindle” all the excitement I knew when my novel was first published.
And there, of course, is the rub -- How many of these runaway Kindle sellers will still be around in 25 years time?
(For good measure in this digital age, I'm also tweeting my 1,000 page book on Twitter @BrazilANovel !!)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ffed5cadcbbe143080000DlyciousMusicThu, 03 Mar 2011 15:49:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ffed5cadcbbe143080000
Borroing a book & the aviailbility of Library books gives persons who are poor, uneducated, unemployed, etc... an equal chance to learn.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ffd6accd1d5bd3a050000DlyciousMusicThu, 03 Mar 2011 15:43:22 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ffd6accd1d5bd3a050000
The point is tha all of those additional "middle-men" disrupts and slowly destroys the Writers original & intended creation. Consumers save that money and spend it on other items, thus saving other jobs.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fe824ccd1d50e37130000Deep PurpleThu, 03 Mar 2011 14:12:36 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fe824ccd1d50e37130000
I am surprised to see this discussion, it is a repeat of many previous discussions all of which were themselves futile. You believe that the choice of one economic system over another is an important matter ? The choice is illusory , there are no economic systems - these theories are merely interpretations of past events ,no more than unverifiable guesswork. This is clearly shown in their failure to correctly anticipate future events with any reliability .Economics is a disgraceful psuedo-science and should be banned. Meanwhile, the noble science of physics explores the sub-atomic world with the startling discovery that the very act of observing the world changes it. Now that is proper science - weird stuff that soon only computers will be able to understand. OK, go back to your argument about the things you think you think you think - maybe you can make the other guy look like the dumb asshole and you will get that feeling you want, that feeling is your soul shrivelling up'by the way, . I shall instead pick up a nearby object and observe its exquisite detail and then drink some vodka and record a version of Papa was A Rolling Stone, For that,you see, is the way life is up here on the higher plane.Put aside your foolish opinions about things that don't exist and ascend - stop and get a bottle on the way though, vodka's almost gone.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fd9ebcadcbbac3d060000Carl EastThu, 03 Mar 2011 13:11:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fd9ebcadcbbac3d060000
Like Amanda, I too am making a living with my writing on Kindle. I've been doing it now for over a year and was able to retire a few months ago. I write erotic stories, so needless to say I wouldn't have been touched by a traditional publisher. Thousands of people out there have now got the opportunity to show the world what they are capable of and I wouldn't mind betting a lot of them have seen rejection letters coming through the post from traditional publishers, who simply will not and cannot take the risk of an unknown.
Times are changing and personally, I think it's for the better.
Carl Easthttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fcadeccd1d5f430060000John Conley Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:07:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fcadeccd1d5f430060000
Whether its self publishers like Amanda, the bankruptcy of the brick & mortar titan Borders or the introduction of ebooks, the face of publishing is changing fast. What we’re left with really though, are just more options. As proven by her success, there’s an audience for Amanda’s books, but there’s also a large segment of the population (myself included) who appreciate holding a book in their hands and thumbing through the pages, versus reading digital text on a Nook.
For publishers looking to serve those of us not willing to hand over our hard copy books, on demand technology is helping them compete by printing shorter initial runs of books with reprint options based on demand.
We are in a digital age – but digital can help both traditional publishers as well as self-publishers like Amanda – it’s just a matter of choices and conforming to consumer tastes. I applaud what Amanda is doing. Traditional publishers can certainly adapt and profit – with the consumer winning either way.
John Conley, Vice President of Publishing­, Xeroxhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fb46dccd1d5d72c150000AprilThu, 03 Mar 2011 10:31:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fb46dccd1d5d72c150000
This article proves that no, you don't need agents, deals, publishers, and financiers. Maintaining this status quo makes writing and selling books, not to mention earning a living from the work put into it, prohibitively expensive for people, and restricts publishing to the privileged. This is a good step for writers.
As far as jobs are concerned, "real" books aren't going anywhere. Furthermore, if the choice is between keeping wealthy people in their publishing, agent, editing jobs, or making it easier for more diverse voices to be heard/read, I choose the latter. I'm so tired of the "jobs" argument being used in opposition to anything that challenges the status quo, or, more disastrously, in opposition to life-saving regulation (see: off-shore drilling).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fa021cadcbb8033090000TomBobThu, 03 Mar 2011 09:05:21 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6fa021cadcbb8033090000
No, you do not need those people anymore. The times, they are a'changin'. Besides, I tried to get a publisher and agent to look at my own work and they just blew me off. The newbie has no chance in the old world and THAT is not right. To hell with them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6f9340ccd1d54c270f0000davidsywThu, 03 Mar 2011 08:10:24 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6f9340ccd1d54c270f0000
The Internet and technology is the ultimate in eliminating the middleman - disintermediation.The music industry is seeing a similar fate.<a href="http://this1that1whatever.com/blog/2011/02/18-collapse-of-music-industry.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://this1that1whatever.com/blog/2011/02/18-collapse-of-music-industry.php</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6f2ec0ccd1d5c317200000WinstonThu, 03 Mar 2011 01:01:36 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6f2ec0ccd1d5c317200000
Random nitpick with the math (though it doesn't really change the conclusion that she's probably making millions).
The article says:
Her books are priced from $0.99 to $3.00
and
Amazon pays a royalty of 70%
But Amazon only pays a royalty of 35% on books priced below $2.99http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6eac294bd7c8950c070000UsikuWed, 02 Mar 2011 15:44:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6eac294bd7c8950c070000
True that!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ea69accd1d50879020000Jamie Curtis BakerWed, 02 Mar 2011 15:20:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ea69accd1d50879020000
I recently just published on the Kindle myself. If you are in the mood for a sarcastic, humurous horror/suspense story, please check out my book "Not Well". Here's a link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-Well-ebook/dp/B004PLMII2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299097222&sr=1-3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Not-Well-ebook/dp/B004PLMII2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299097222&sr=1-3</a>
Thanks for the support! :-)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ea28149e2aef61b010000Sandra VincentWed, 02 Mar 2011 15:03:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ea28149e2aef61b010000
Referring to the comments, whether the work is "crap" or "unoriginal" really has nothing to do with it. Obviously, a lot of people like it enough to pay what she's asking; as long as that fact is true, her books will sell. Literature is for leisure as much as it is for intellectual stimulation. Middlemen are HAPPY to publish "crap" books that follow the current popular trend. Having middlemen doesn't mean that poor content gets filtered: it gets promoted.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e92204bd7c86f04010000KermonkWed, 02 Mar 2011 13:53:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e92204bd7c86f04010000
Hm, according to the interview on Huffington post she sells 1000+ pr month, not 100000+ but according to her blog she has sold 900000+ in total.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e86ffcadcbba277010000Peter BowermanWed, 02 Mar 2011 13:05:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e86ffcadcbba277010000
While I, too, celebrate Amanda's success, I have to smile a bit at all the "Take-THAT-you-greedy-publishers" comments. I suppose it's natural, given a story like Amanda's, to thumb our collective noses at the traditional publishing world, and believe me, as a successful self-publisher (but not in the Kindle world), I know they deserve some bad press. BUT...
Understand this: Amanda Hocking, given her present business model (i.e., books priced between $.99 and $2.99) wouldn’t be a good candidate for a traditional publisher anyway. Yes, she’s wildly successful, but at a price point under $3. No traditional publishing company printing actual books would look twice at her, unless they wanted to only sell her books as ebooks, in which case, why would she need them?
Until and unless her books get to a point where she has such a following that her readers are willing to pay $15-20 each for her books (i.e., the reason why traditional publishers only publish the celebrities and proven entities who have audiences willing to shell out that much). Do you think Amanda's buyers would pay that much for her books if some publisher did pick her up? (purely hypothetical obviously, since she's way beyond them now). Highly doubtful.
And, no offense to Ms. Hocking (and I haven't read her books, so I'm speculating), but something tells me her books aren't high-end literary masterpieces. And they don't have to be in the Kindle world. Got a following who likes your work? Then, quality matters less. Yet, that's another reason why a publisher wouldn't be interested.
And before trashing publishers (and believe me, I'm no fan), try to understand them through the lens of basic economics. Traditional publishers may be elitist and snobby, but that’s separate from the operational reality of their business model, which requires shelling out a pile of upfront money before they’ll ever make back a dime. So, not surprisingly, they have to feel there’s a better-than-good chance of making a profit. Yet, even with this extreme selectivity, most books taken on by conventional publishers either lose money or barely break even.
If you were in their business, what would you do? A publisher isn’t a charity, and if they start acting like one – giving every one with even a glimmer of talent a chance – they wouldn’t last a year. So, while our angry commenters may feel better, the raging against the “closed gate (publishing) industry” doesn’t stand up to the cold, hard calculus of a company’s balance sheet.
Bottom line, what we're seeing is two parallel but completely separate publishing worlds here, and ne'er the twain shall meet. But I'm happily joining in the celebration that, now, people can be heard AND can profit.
Peter Bowermanhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e5b5f4bd7c84372050000Com MentorWed, 02 Mar 2011 09:59:43 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e5b5f4bd7c84372050000
Was her book about vampires and/or porn by any chance?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e559849e2ae9a3a1c0000Bill JensenWed, 02 Mar 2011 09:35:04 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6e559849e2ae9a3a1c0000
As someone who has worked in publishing and has reviewed thousands of proposals and submissions this does not bode well for readers. Writers and author wannabees who are convinced they have the talents of Dostoevsky or Faulkner are in reality average to horrible writers. Think American Idol auditions, it's really no different. All those pitchy, off-key writers are going to flood Amazon and other online retail outlets and I fear turn off future readers who lose confidence in books. It will be messy for a long time and my hope is that the traditional publishers will survive for the sake of filtering out the polluted mess that is out there.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6dae7e4bd7c85458020000Rose ValentaTue, 01 Mar 2011 21:42:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6dae7e4bd7c85458020000
I'd like to know more about how she marketed her book to Kindle users.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6da32949e2ae0839020000rileyTue, 01 Mar 2011 20:53:45 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6da32949e2ae0839020000
amazing story. really inspirational.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d90eecadcbb154d130000MaurelleTue, 01 Mar 2011 19:35:58 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d90eecadcbb154d130000
Not reading through the thread to see if this has been addressed, but the .99 don't earn 70% royaltiess. Anything under 2.99 and over 9.99 earns only 35% royalty rate. And the 2.99-9.99 earn 70% MINUS a .15/mb transfer fee. Even so, all .99 * 100,000 * .35 would still be almost half a million a year.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d79db49e2ae4c13070000DreamofRain22Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:57:30 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d79db49e2ae4c13070000
If you're not in the publishing world, you have no idea what all those middle men really do. Without the expertise of publishers, editors, and designers, the vast, vast majority of authors would be nowhere. The quality simply cannot compare. If you spend all day reviewing manuscripts, you would know the difference. Besides, contrary to the popular view of this discussion, publishers aren't out just to make their pockets grow every day. Many of them truly care about the work they do, about helping to make people's books stronger, about the success and personal achievement of the author. But like I said, you wouldn't have any inkling of this if you haven't had any exposure to that world.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d77c94bd7c8cc4f0b0000Stephen TTue, 01 Mar 2011 17:48:41 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d77c94bd7c8cc4f0b0000
Ugh. Just as I praise the technology, it foils me. That last sentence should read "That era is over, and I think that's a good thing."
See, there will still be a place for editors in the brave new world of digital distribution!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d7704cadcbb99490b0000Stephen TTue, 01 Mar 2011 17:45:24 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d7704cadcbb99490b0000
Lowering the bar to get published is a GREAT thing in my opinion, as it reduces the barriers between content-maker and content-consumer. I still think there's room for "trusted" sources for content. Their role will change, but the old publishers will still exist in some form, but without quite so much actual publishing. With all the infinite number of websites out there on the internet, most of the traffic still goes toward sites with trusted content. There are thousands of sports blogs, but I'm guessing ESPN trumps the all of them on traffic. I can connect to any human with an internet connection in an infinite number of formats, but most people use Facebook. There's still room for "the system" to exist to promote the best and brightest writers, but now even if you don't get the blessing of the machine you can still put your work into the world and see how it does. Before tech disrupted markets, being shut out by the big players meant the dream was over. I think that's a good thing.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d689bcadcbb3c47020000GoingLikeSixtyTue, 01 Mar 2011 16:43:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d689bcadcbb3c47020000
This doesn't pass the smell test. Just sounds too good to be true. The truth will out... she's probably cheating somehow.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5c5249e2ae0d70230000BobChrisTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:51:29 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5c5249e2ae0d70230000
You obviously have never tried to navigate <a href="www.sap.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sap.com</a> - one of the largest businesses in the world, and has one of the worst websites known to mankind. We won't bother to discuss their products or trying to support them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5a424bd7c8b94a040000Ken HollyTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:42:41 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5a424bd7c8b94a040000
Before Amazon, the publishing industry was controlled by a small group of people.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5567ccd1d5b7390a0000Etienne Le CamusTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:21:59 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5567ccd1d5b7390a0000
her picture. She looks more her age in these pictures
<a href="http://postbulletin.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=29383961&event=999745&CategoryID=26870" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://postbulletin.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=29383961&event=999745&CategoryID=26870</a>
<a href="http://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/11/13/romance-from-beyond-the-veil/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/11/13/romance-from-beyond-the-veil/</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5532ccd1d5c039030000tedtTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:21:05 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d5532ccd1d5c039030000
Ironic that you didn't mention the only middle (wo)men who actually add value: editors.
Although, most traditionally published stuff these days reads like it hasn't been anywhere near a competent editor, so maybe we should leave them out as well -- if an author wants an editor, they can always hire one...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d543bccd1d5b739040000UsikuTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:16:59 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d543bccd1d5b739040000
Exactly! What the masses value tends to turn out to be paper weights.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d53c74bd7c82049150000UsikuTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:15:03 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d53c74bd7c82049150000
Our education system must either not be complex or had a long enough history.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d531dcadcbb9c43020000Pen Head BillTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:12:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d531dcadcbb9c43020000
I wonder if one could publish poetry on Kindle? Do Kindle books have pictures in them? It seems to me that Kindle would be a good medium for publishing collage and cutout poetry. Jpegs are cheaper to make than printing color pages.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d3dad4bd7c8d645050000David SimpsonTue, 01 Mar 2011 13:40:45 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d3dad4bd7c8d645050000
P2P is NOT illegal, sharing copyrighted material is against copyright law but P2P itself is not illegal.
The point being if the same rules were applied to music and movies that apply to book in a library then we would not even have a concept of piracy.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d3d22ccd1d5ae341e0000David SimpsonTue, 01 Mar 2011 13:38:26 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d3d22ccd1d5ae341e0000
It is insanity to pay more for products just to keep people in pointless needless jobs.
Seems pretty obvious you work in the publishing industry and you are now scared for your job. LOLhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d372ccadcbb7c3e040000RoamabitTue, 01 Mar 2011 13:13:00 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d372ccadcbb7c3e040000
bullshit. ... That may be true for a bad book.
Any message worth its weight in paper will find it's way into the hands of the masses.
Guetenberg Bible
Communist manifesto
etc etc etc...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d342ccadcbb693d080000ebkitaTue, 01 Mar 2011 13:00:12 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d342ccadcbb693d080000
Went to Pandamian. Looks cool! Can't wait to check it out more closely!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d324b4bd7c82c43140000Jim KukralTue, 01 Mar 2011 12:52:10 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d324b4bd7c82c43140000
Not everyone will be a writer. But everyone who tries to write must be a marketer. That's the difference between success and not. You have to be both if you want to be successful. Artists/writers that are highly skilled and nobody knows about all have the same opportunity to become "well-known and successful" IF they become marketers.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2efe49e2ae7243090000mmhmmTue, 01 Mar 2011 12:38:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2efe49e2ae7243090000
their jobs only existed on the exploitation of another person's talent. shame on them.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2e17cadcbb993c040000James W. LewisTue, 01 Mar 2011 12:34:15 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2e17cadcbb993c040000
I see some hatin' going on. I'm an indie author and despite the 35% or 70% Amazon cut (who gives a sh*t), I'd be extremely happy selling 100,000 copies a month! Good for her! The way I see it, it's only going to get better for the indies. Either deal with it, ride the wave, or get left behind like B&N.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2bc649e2ae323f040000Michael Y.Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:24:21 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2bc649e2ae323f040000
The internet was created by DARPA with 100% government funds. So yes, capitalism did a great thing here, but only because the government spent millions created an ecosystem in which it could.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2b044bd7c83c42040000Kristie Leigh MaguireTue, 01 Mar 2011 12:21:07 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2b044bd7c83c42040000
Hooray for Amanda Hocking! It's great to have breakout Indie Authors. As an Indie Author myself, I am pea green with envy but very excited that Amanda has succeeded in doing this.
However Amazon's contract states that with a book set below $2.99, the author receives 35% royalties. It's only with books set at $2.99 and above where the author can receive the royalty rate of 70%.
I have seen many articles recently about Amanda Hocking. They all show the same picture. I want to know if this is really a picture of Amanda. It looks like a child, not a 26 year old woman.
If anyone wants to become part of the movement to help me become an overnight success (after over a decade in the writing business), feel free to purchase my 5 titles available for download to your Kindle, Nook, or other e-reader. Then you can see my name in lights all over the internet and know you were the ones who put me there. :)
Kristie Leigh Maguire (author of Second Chances, Desert Heat, Cabin Fever, No Lady and Her Tramp, and You've Got Mail from Japan)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d26a94bd7c819410d0000LanceTue, 01 Mar 2011 12:02:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d26a94bd7c819410d0000
Yawnhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2046cadcbbbc382a0000UsikuTue, 01 Mar 2011 11:35:18 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d2046cadcbbbc382a0000
I believe a book in the hand remains worth something in this society, otherwise I believe we are setting ourselves up negative repercussions. I can't imagine reading a bedtime story from an electronic device.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d1c044bd7c86b3f010000UsikuTue, 01 Mar 2011 11:17:07 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d1c044bd7c86b3f010000
I agree but quality is always an issue in any human endeavor, even in the endeavor of living.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d17a349e2aee829050000joe micallefTue, 01 Mar 2011 10:58:27 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d17a349e2aee829050000
That's why you do both... leverage both systems. Not everyone is online & real books are here to stay. But going going the e-route is great place to start because now she can afford an agent.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d074249e2ae3c11300000Greg from DashBookTue, 01 Mar 2011 09:48:34 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d074249e2ae3c11300000
(my DashBook URL was wrong. Hope this is better, as I don't see edit ability))http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d05f6cadcbbb0340b0000Greg from DashBookTue, 01 Mar 2011 09:43:01 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6d05f6cadcbbb0340b0000
There are always opportunities for selling a lot or making a lot of money. She is to be congratulated for apparently accomplishing her goals.
However, as many point out, this does not mean there is no need for publishers. When a writer takes work and posts it on Amazon or elsewhere, that is just part of the process that a good publisher does.
Written work should be edited and proofread. Many self-published writers skimp on these steps. And to get the work known, there needs to be marketing. These two steps are huge factors, but there are more. A good publisher will also not publish something that they deem not worth the effort or their brand reputation.
Hooray for those wanting to do most everything themselves. For others who appreciate the value, good publishers will remain while the weaker ones will get winnowed out.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cf99e49e2aebe0b0e0000fugue.Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:50:22 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cf99e49e2aebe0b0e0000
@John.Anthony.Curran:
...well, that's not entirely true at all. there *do* subsist intelligent areas of culture with equally-ravenous minds for the action/adventure-written idiosyncrasy (i type 'idiosyncrasy' loosely, because i've noticed writing with layers comes with quirks.), they're just less on the 'louder' end of the communication spectrum in the consumerism supply-and-demand law. however, that doesn't mean they don't exist. mayhap incorporate other marketing techniques to get that book out there? i'm not implying you don't already, i'm just suggesting. i profoundly relate to your sentiment, and i sense the cynicism vibe in your post because whatever goal you had for your books has yet to be met. so let's focus more on how that can be achieved. : )
i run into the, "nobody likes good stuff, anymore." on daily bases. for me, i am both a writer (novelist;poet) & a musician. i am by no stretch of the imagination "famous", not even remotely in internet terms, but my stuff is out there. it's been published. it's been recorded. a small number of people have been touched by the various messages despite that i don't make a decent living doing this, yet. while it's incredibly easy for me to lapse into that, "good is absolutely tantamount to obscure." conclusion, it's just a product of projected negativity due to not being in a pre-planned place nor receiving what i've wanted to in that given time-frame. however, it's all in perspective. i like knowing that a certain number of people exist enjoying my stuff. how exciting it is that you've written action & adventure! i'm sure there are people gobbling up your sentences somewhere. so keep writing, try different marketing angles, and remain positive. that keeps one productive in lieu of dismissive when the positive fan-base feedback is seriously low or completely non-existent.
i'm rather bothered by a majority of the comments here; a lot of unnecessarily persnickety textual altercations marked needlessly venomous because there is always safety in the anonymity of text, isn't there? it can all be best summarized as, "man. a lot of people sure are pissed they're not making the money Amanda Hocking is & uselessly taking it out on each other in a louder voice, b/c luckily the internet doesn't come with flesh-and-blood faces."http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cf8bb49e2aebe0b020000Dave DTue, 01 Mar 2011 08:46:34 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cf8bb49e2aebe0b020000
The problem is that Hocking is making her money by what looks like to all appearances flooding the market with crap. The ebook model benefits fast writers at low prices, and Hocking seems to be making a lot of rather generic YA and paranormal romance books, dumping them at absurdly low prices, and raking in profits since there is virtually no cost.
We already have a model in the print world of this, and I'm willing to bet no one here would ever trumpet it: it's called the series book, be it Harlequin Romance, Mack Bolan's Executioner, or the glut of generic westerns selling for 3.50 at Walmart. They are budget priced, and probably make a lot of money. Are they good quality? Hell no, with "workmanlike" being the best compliment for virtually all of them.
I get frustrated at how people are so willing to adopt these kind of "long tail" disruptive models when it's becoming obvious that they have serious flaws that people gloss over.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cf5d54bd7c89036240000a librarianTue, 01 Mar 2011 08:34:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cf5d54bd7c89036240000
Libraries pay for the materials they lend -- including eBook libraries.
For a flip-side of this issue, see HarperCollins proprietary limitations on eBook lending of its titles. Very anti-consumer, anti-library and not so good for authors, either.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cea23cadcbb522f290000KarlTue, 01 Mar 2011 07:44:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cea23cadcbb522f290000
It was capitalism before. And it will still be capitalism when the publishers cut exclusive partnership deals that will crowd out the indies in exchange for advanced online sales of the next Grisham novel.
Plus ca change.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ce912ccd1d53d260f0000BHarvTue, 01 Mar 2011 07:39:46 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ce912ccd1d53d260f0000
Libraries aren't piracy because they had to purchase the material to begin with. One reason best selling authors have sold in the past is because they had guaranteed money coming in from the library system (which gets most of its funding from public tax dollars...just to feed the fire of the outstanding debate going on here).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cd5e649e2aed367250000A_LyricTue, 01 Mar 2011 06:17:57 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6cd5e649e2aed367250000
In fact, systems were in place. Numerous companies were courting the major trying to get them to to adopt variations of mp3 or other files. A company called Liquid Audio nearly achieved it too - and I'm talking 1997 and 1998. The majors, to their subsequent dismay, ignored all proposals and tried very, very unsuccessfully to develop their own proprietary shops. By the time Apple came to see them, they had realised what was wrong. And remember, iTunes was only accepted as it was a closed system with limited cross-platform compatibility.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ca74649e2ae654b3f0000a_crossTue, 01 Mar 2011 02:59:02 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ca74649e2ae654b3f0000
So, may we presume you think automobile owners should be willing to pay for the upkeep of all the former farriers, harness makers, and blacksmiths?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ca16749e2ae354e070000UsikuTue, 01 Mar 2011 02:33:59 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6ca16749e2ae354e070000
I'm just saying this article and authors would benefit from more balance in this article, namely by including information on other ebook publishing options such as Google books. If Amazon and Google were considered as options, authors would benefit, especially from the competition. As it stands, this article promotes one over the other just by virtue of not mentioning Google. The subtext is "publishing with Amazon and on Kindle is the way to go for ebooks." That's why, at least in politics, there's such a thing as equal air time.
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2010-12-07-googlebooks07_CV_N.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2010-12-07-googlebooks07_CV_N.htm</a>
Furthermore, Amazon is unjustly enriched by virtue of a specialty device being purchased due to authors rushing to Amazon. Amazon profits regardless of how well any author does. On the other hand, no one buys an Android device just to read books and/or other online text. As an author, all options should be considered and their future, longer term consequences for the author.
Lastly, the only reason authors are getting slightly better royalties is due to the threat of competition from Google. The best deal for authors is not a short term consideration.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c9caf49e2aeff4d040000Brian MeeksTue, 01 Mar 2011 02:13:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c9caf49e2aeff4d040000
I think it benefits anyone who has ever wanted to self publish. If it benefits Amazon, makes their Kindle more successful, then that helps struggling authors too.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c9ad9cadcbbe9221a0000Mike MastersTue, 01 Mar 2011 02:06:01 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c9ad9cadcbbe9221a0000
I am sure someone already mentioned this and I don't have time to go through the comments.
at .99 cents amazon pays you 35% NOT 70%
only when you get to the 2.99 mark can you receive a 70% royalty.
I believe that authors that offer at .99 cents are only doing it for promotional reasons.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c99d1cadcbbfa22270000Byron KiddTue, 01 Mar 2011 02:01:37 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c99d1cadcbbfa22270000
I've read Kindle edition of The Ranboen Contract and found it highly entertaining.
You can read my full review of this outstanding debut novel here :
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1NVV6SFV8FR51/ref=cm_pdp_rev_title_1?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview#R3BFYNW11OH42J" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1NVV6SFV8FR51/ref=cm_pdp_rev_title_1?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview#R3BFYNW11OH42J</a>
Between each published novel I read I try and sandwich a title from a self published author. Among unpublished authors there have been a lot of stinkers, but a few real gems. Having said that I've read some stinkers by traditionally published authors too.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c81accadcbbdb20100000UsikuTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:18:36 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c81accadcbbdb20100000
This article seems to mainly benefit Amazon - promotion disguised as objective information.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c7f7249e2ae153b010000Brian MeeksTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:09:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c7f7249e2ae153b010000
This was a great article, though I am biased. I hadn't heard of her before today, but I have been doing something similar with my blog. I have written two novels and am into my 3rd. I post a new chapter each night. When I get the rewrite done for the 1st one, I will put it up on Kindle. I don't expect to do as well as her, as she is likely a better writer, but it is exciting to read about a success story.
I have a degree in Economics and I find the zero raw material product to be a fascinating case. Good for her. I hope she continues to do well.
Brian
ExtremelyAverage.comhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c72594bd7c858250e0000learntomakemoneyMon, 28 Feb 2011 23:13:12 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c72594bd7c858250e0000
Kindle rock! You too can have your book in kindle making money from it. it real easy to do. Email me and I will show you how...http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c535d4bd7c83a21070000Brendan ·Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:01:01 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c535d4bd7c83a21070000
Markets change and businesses transform to consumer needs. Are you saying they should stop for the sake of keeping things the way it is, including jobs? Because that would be utterly crazy.
Deals, publishers, and financiers will always be there in one form or another. Writers just get to make the deals directly with the (digital) publisher. Some bigger names will get up-front money from financiers, who will help with marketing.
On top of that, these changes won't happen overnight. There won't be millions of publishing people without jobs, __as long as they can adapt__.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c3bb2cadcbb0316290000John Anthony CurranMon, 28 Feb 2011 19:20:02 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c3bb2cadcbb0316290000
What happens when everyone is a writer? Same as now... good writers are stuck in obscurity and their works lie unread.
I've written excellent action/adventure books, and one is available as cheap as Amazon will allow. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ranboen-Contract-ebook/sim/B003YOSEY8/2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/The-Ranboen-Contract-ebook/sim/B003YOSEY8/2</a>)
But how many people know about it? Certainly not hundreds of thousands, unfortunately.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c388449e2aec274110000Danny PMon, 28 Feb 2011 19:06:27 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c388449e2aec274110000
"Thats probably what you socialists want anyway. "
Wow, ad hominem attacks from an ideological fanatic, that's new. Hey, wild idea here, divorce your thinking from this primitive capitalism-socialism dichotomy and realize that what you think of as capitalism is purely a fantasy that only ever existed in the imagination of the hypocritical welfare leech Ayn Rand.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c307d4bd7c8931c010000Victor VolkmanMon, 28 Feb 2011 18:32:12 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c307d4bd7c8931c010000
It looks like the race to the bottom has started. The definition of capitalism requires capital, some thing is invested and put at stake. This is capitalism minus the capital, just an "ism" I guess.
You only get to keep 65% (not 70% as the article states). Actually, you can't even collect your 65% unless the book is priced at $2.99 or more. Below $2.99, you only collect 30 cents per copy. So if you sell 100,000 books at 99 cents each, you'll have $29,700 and Amazon will have the rest. Is this millions? How many 100,000 copy a month eBook authors are there? I would estimate fewer than six. Good luck breaking in to that circle.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c301b4bd7c8541c080000kkMon, 28 Feb 2011 18:30:35 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c301b4bd7c8541c080000
Seriously, have you ever tried navigating a government website? They're horrible. Private sector made the internet easier, convenient and cost effective.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c2d9ecadcbb5b15060000DJMon, 28 Feb 2011 18:19:58 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c2d9ecadcbb5b15060000
Offer a product at a reasonable price point and most people will happy pay rather than steal.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c2baccadcbb0d15030000JimMon, 28 Feb 2011 18:11:39 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c2baccadcbb0d15030000
@joeljrichards - she'll have to innvoate to get her product noticed, like publishers have had to do over the last x years. With that amount of income, she could resort to traditional advertising, but more likely will build a strong brand and following on various social networks and profit that way.
The world is changinghttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c18ea49e2aeeb5d030000Avil BeckfordMon, 28 Feb 2011 16:51:38 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c18ea49e2aeeb5d030000
Hi Pascal-Emmanuel,
Just to let you know, you have to be American or British to get 70 percent from Amazon for each sale. I am Canadian so I only get 35 percent. It makes no sense to me but that's the way it is. Avil Beckfordhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c078ecadcbbfa0e010000joeljrichardsMon, 28 Feb 2011 15:37:34 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6c078ecadcbbfa0e010000
Is lowering the bar to get published really better in the long run for writers? Her strategy works very well and obviously she's got a great readership but when happens when there are thousands of copy cats and she no longer gets people buying her books just to try out their new Kindles?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bffbfcadcbb080d0f0000lolfucktardMon, 28 Feb 2011 15:04:15 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bffbfcadcbb080d0f0000
Here explained:
<a href="http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Capitalism" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Capitalism</a>
Now go fap to bestiality.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bf1adcadcbbde0a0e0000Jasonian84Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:04:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bf1adcadcbbde0a0e0000
I must have missed when Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, et. al., were nationalized.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bf091ccd1d5fc7f0f0000a.jacksonMon, 28 Feb 2011 13:59:29 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bf091ccd1d5fc7f0f0000
I think the article needs some more depth to it. Yes, she is cutting out the middle man, but the results show. Go read some of the reviews of her work. Basically the quality of the work shows what happens when you cut out everything else that is required via the traditional method of getting a novel published. I mean, good on her for what she's doing, but she is capitalizing on the trend, i.e. she's written another teen vampire love book.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6beccd49e2aeec281e0000StanOMon, 28 Feb 2011 13:43:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6beccd49e2aeec281e0000
That's only partially true, yes the initial technology was developed by DARPA, but it is a combination of government, public and private academic and private research.
But without a doubt the internet is what it is today because of private investments and research. And of course the economic opportunities associated with the Internet.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6be8facadcbb1d09060000dgatzaMon, 28 Feb 2011 13:27:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6be8facadcbb1d09060000
Why is cutting out the middle man wrong? Who says the middle man is entitled to profits made from the writer's creativity? All middle men do is connect publishers with retailers and/or end users.
There is no requirement for middle men, only the demand for them. They are not 'entitled' to be in any particular market.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bdef94bd7c8940e010000Eli JamesMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:44:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bdef94bd7c8940e010000
There are two options for ebooks on Kindle:
The $0.99 price range gives her a 30% cut. The $2.99 (or higher, it's up to the author to set the price) gives her a 70% cut.
You probably need to Google more. ;-)http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bde46cadcbb14075d0000Eli JamesMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:41:25 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bde46cadcbb14075d0000
It's worth noting that Hocking's leveraging just about every social network there is out there: she's on Twitter, Amazon, Facebook, Blogger, and she responds very quickly (and politely!) to all messages.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bdc834bd7c8130e020000LibertarianMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:33:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bdc834bd7c8130e020000
"How much of the actual Kindle technology was discovered by "private" funding?"
What starting from Bell Labs innovation of the transistor or Johannes Gutenberg's printing press? Remind me again how the state viewed the inception of the printing press...
"You have "faith based" economics." Lol - Pot, meet Kettle.
Tell me big brother, exactly when would the current regulatory structure have seen fit to bypass the usual media distribution channels?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bdb4849e2ae2117120000Neil VisnapuuMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:28:40 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bdb4849e2ae2117120000
You do realize the entire premise is based on a functioning Internet? Which is a product of significant government investment over many years (DARPA), as well as a backbone of essentially co-opted hardware, as well as a mass effort on the part of individual to provide free software tools.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bda584bd7c84e0d120000IthacaMatt's CowMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:24:40 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bda584bd7c84e0d120000
"Then you defend "public" defense spending which also drives a lot of technology innovation and call that capitalism as well."
Um, no, I don't. But nice try, fail, you're a retard, thanks for playing.
Tune in next time when FredZ plays "let's change the subject" once again!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd9bfcadcbb9306190000Eli JamesMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:22:06 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd9bfcadcbb9306190000
Hi, I'm Eli and I'm responsible for Novelr.
I think history would show that complex systems tend to move towards higher efficiency. it makes no sense to conserve all that makes the current publishing industry so inefficient - things like agents, and deals, and publishers, and financiers - which are really legacy elements in a system designed around the inefficiencies of the print-run and the bookstore.
Also, I would argue that freeing things up would then enable publishers to start doing cooler, better things. (I wrote a post arguing this <a href="http://www.novelr.com/2010/04/20/to-change-publishing-make-publishers-obsolete" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.novelr.com/2010/04/20/to-change-publishing-make-publishers-obsolete</a> ; and I'm currently doing work to make that happen over at a startup called Pandamian).
Would it be really painful for the publishing industry in the short run? Almost certainly. But it will be better for the long run, and whatever job losses we get today would be offset by the new jobs; the new roles that a new business model would create.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd75b49e2aec8131d0000LibertarianMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:11:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd75b49e2aec8131d0000
"You need agents, deals, publishers, financiers..."
Its scary how many parasites this country has spawned, and righteously indignant ones at that. Tell me, do I need senators, lobbyists, and brokers as well?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd6b04bd7c8830c200000DenisMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:09:03 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd6b04bd7c8830c200000
I disagree.
P2P is illegal.
Libraries aren't.
Arbritary, yes. Piracy, NO.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd51649e2ae92120a0000jbMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:02:14 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd51649e2ae92120a0000
I assume she wouldn't like the comparison, but Amanda Hocking might be the Justin Bieber for publishing. Great stuff. Yet another industry (publishing) dented by disruptive technology.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd4ff49e2aec813010000Pascal-Emmanuel GobryMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:01:51 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd4ff49e2aec813010000
Some of them are priced at $;99, some at $2.99. But we did get her age wrong. Thanks.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd4a849e2ae9e12050000Pascal-Emmanuel GobryMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:24 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd4a849e2ae9e12050000
Entertainment has always been a "tournament" market where a few make lots of money and most struggle. The internet won't change that. What it will though is take out plenty of gate-keepers and toll-collectors who don't add much value.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd44fccd1d5767a1c0000Pascal-Emmanuel GobryMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:58:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd44fccd1d5767a1c0000
I think for books people will pay and keep paying for convenience.
If record labels had had an iTunes-like system in 1999 instead of having to get dragged to it and still not getting it right, history might have been quite different.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd3fd49e2aee6110f0000Pascal-Emmanuel GobryMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:57:33 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd3fd49e2aee6110f0000
I do think there's a future for publishing houses, but they'll be in the agency/ad business, not in the publishing business. And for some of them it will be very good, because their business isn't warehousing boxes of wood pulp. But most of them won't understand that.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd21a4bd7c84f0c010000FredZMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:49:30 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd21a4bd7c84f0c010000
How much of the actual Kindle technology was discovered by "private" funding? Not as much as you think. You have "faith based" economics. You have a talking point and all of your thinking resolves around that statement of faith.
BTW Then you defend "public" defense spending which also drives a lot of technology innovation and call that capitalism as well.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd06cccd1d5b179140000FredZMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:42:20 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bd06cccd1d5b179140000
Technology comes from the minds scientists and engineers. Many of whom receive their pay check from public as well as private funds.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcfad49e2aef70c020000IthacaMatt's CowMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:39:09 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcfad49e2aef70c020000
I have a term for people like you:
Economic Luddite.
You're a relic. Like the Japanese soldier hiding in the jungle, refusing to believe you lost the war.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcf7749e2aeb20c060000Brian B.Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:38:14 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcf7749e2aeb20c060000
And how exactly have they been fighting it? New technologies came into the market place. The little guy won. Doesn't sound like a fight to me. This is free markets at work. There was no governmental oversight to bailout publishers because kindle was putting them out of business. Thats probably what you socialists want anyway.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bceb0ccd1d5ae79060000Jasonian84Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:34:55 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bceb0ccd1d5ae79060000
Where do you think the technology came from? Answer: A capitalist company trying to make money. Free markets had everything to do with it.
One of the free market's greatest strengths is that the new and better constantly supplants the ancient and obsolete. Of course, dinosaurs will try to fight the trend, but as long as the government doesn't intervene -- through subsidies, bailouts, and whatnot -- the dinosaurs will always go extinct.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bce9b4bd7c8ca0a060000Pascal-Emmanuel GobryMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:34:35 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bce9b4bd7c8ca0a060000
Amen.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bce4fcadcbb8904060000Jon F. MerzMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:33:19 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bce4fcadcbb8904060000
Why not? My site's legit. Do a Google search on my name and you'll see.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcd48cadcbbeb03110000vernonhkMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:28:56 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcd48cadcbbeb03110000
Cutting out publishers seems pretty sensible thing to do but suprised it has taken so long for an author to make enough out of it. The use of web/tech in this way is nothing new really as property agents will testify.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcd0ecadcbb7204010000RevoneMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:27:57 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcd0ecadcbb7204010000
5 years? Everyone will have made a profit by then and would be on something new.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcca9cadcbb1c040c0000RevoneMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:26:16 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcca9cadcbb1c040c0000
Maybe with the "millions" she's making she can ditch the stupid emo look and go for something less naive and dumb.
Damn Twilight rip off, and Twilight sucked.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcc4149e2aef507050000GLMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:24:32 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcc4149e2aef507050000
I did click on that and got to the guy's site. I have not bothered to read much but looks legit to me.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcc0ecadcbb4d04030000Just Fine!Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:23:42 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcc0ecadcbb4d04030000
Look, no job, career, business model, system lasts forever. You have to consistently live your life nowadays like tomorrow is very near to be able compete.
This is a great story, and shows the power of freemarkets and real competition. Either you stay relevant or you disappear!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcb3f4bd7c8880a040000FredZMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:20:15 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bcb3f4bd7c8880a040000
Business Insider get your facts straight. She get's $.99 cents per eBook. Which I discovered in 30 second by aGoogle search and the author "clarifies" on her blog. Jesus, how can you get such a basic fact wrong!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bca83ccd1d5dc78070000Dean WormerMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:17:07 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bca83ccd1d5dc78070000
Great story...but jury's still out. What happens in five years when everyone is "writer" and someone needs to sort all this stuff and your take gets smaller cause there's so much competition.
Dont be surprised if the cylce starts all over again with different playershttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bca3acadcbbe303060000FredZMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:15:54 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bca3acadcbbe303060000
Technology won, Capitalism and free markets had nothing to do with it. In fact they have been fighting it the whole way.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc9be4bd7c86a0a050000Rupert Murdoch is trannyMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:13:49 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc9be4bd7c86a0a050000
And rupert does not make money on it!!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc9b4cadcbbd603040000Duh Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:13:40 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc9b4cadcbbd603040000
Don't click on thathttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc985ccd1d556772d0000No way Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:12:52 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc985ccd1d556772d0000
Borrowing a book at the library would be considered piracy.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc92f49e2ae4a07030000Not rightMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:11:26 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc92f49e2ae4a07030000
You need agents, deals, publishers, financiers all kinds of people to make a real book. This isnt right, it's cutting out the middle men and all those jobs.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc8eacadcbbad023f0000Jon F. MerzMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:10:18 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc8eacadcbbad023f0000
Yep, even us old traditional authors are jumping ship now. I just posted about my own ebook efforts for the month of February (a trickle of what Amanda did, but great for me!). It' a bold new world out there and it's damned exciting!
<a href="http://bit.ly/i5GpA7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/i5GpA7</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc8e9ccd1d56a77310000DenisMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:10:16 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc8e9ccd1d56a77310000
It's all good until piracy cuts in...
$3 sounds cheap until it's found "free" on P2P sites.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc7b949e2ae207c0c0000TyMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:05:13 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc7b949e2ae207c0c0000
I love this story. Barriers are falling and writers and consumers win.
Discovery becomes a bigger issue because writers won't have big marketing budgets that publishers might have provided (if they were among the 'chosen'). So it will be up to the writers to become creative and make the most of social media promotion opportunities.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc4facadcbbd702090000IthacaMatt's CowMon, 28 Feb 2011 10:53:30 -0500http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4d6bc4facadcbbd702090000
Writers make more. Consumers pay less.
Capitalism and free markets FOR THE WIN.